LREM president backs taxe d'habitation on second homes
Christophe Castener, who is also Secretary of State for Parliamentary Relations, publicly supports maintaining tax on non-primary residences
A key member of President Emmanuel Macron's government has come out in favour of maintaining taxe d'habitation on second homes.
Christophe Castaner, Secretary of State for Relations with Parliament, and president of La République en Marche said he supported keeping the local tax on non-primary residences in an interview on France 2's L'Emission Politique show.
As reported, the publication of a government review into local taxation stated taxe d'habitation would be abolished by 2021. But it was unclear at the time whether that included second properties.
Connexion has asked for clarification on the issue.
Mr Castaner made it clear that his personal opinion should not be considered an indication of government policy. He told the show's host Léa Salamé: "I consider that we can maintain the housing tax on second homes provided that we maintain the abolition of the housing tax on the main residences of all French people.
"If you have a second home ... I think you have the ability to honour this local tax that benefits the municipality and therefore the maintenance of the housing tax for second homes do not shock me, on the contrary it [would have] my support."
